True Madrid surprises Bayern Munich in Champions League

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True Madrid surprises Bayern Munich in Champions League

In today's Champions League 2014 first leg semifinals, Spanish Football's La Liga hosts Real Madrid defeated German Football's Bundesliga visitors Bayern Munich 1-0, in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Madrid, playing a 4-4-2, which has a clearly not-match-ready Cristiano Ronaldo, and benching the still-recovering-from-the-flu Gareth Bale, were outplayed from the visitors your entire first half. Bayern maintained 72% of possession, beating Real to divided balls and pressing them on their own half of the pitch.
But Madrid seemed up to the task of stopping Bayern along with the middle was so well defended by Isco, Xabi Alonso, Luka Modric, Angel di Maria, and also the Real defense, that this wings seemed the only option for the Munich team. Ironically, Arjen Robben, perhaps their utmost offensive weapon, found himself double-teamed whenever he became Bayern's wide offensive outlet. Time after time the Madrid defense stopped Bayern--sometimes cold, other tines with last gasp lunges or blocks, but never requiring a genuine save from goalkeeper Iker Casillas. Thus went the initial 18 minutes.
Then came part 2 of Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti's strategy. The counter, a Madrid specialty since Jose Mourinho's days, was at full gear and on the 19th minute Fabio Coentrao found Ronaldo at concerning the midfield line. The striker, can not do his usual sprints received, held then delivered the perfect lead pass to his Portuguese teammate about the left wing. Coentrao's cross found Karim Benzema open in the far post to the easy set aside. The resulting score line, Real 1, Bayern 0, was truly from the run of play.
But then a goal inspired Real and in the 25:46 mark another counter saw Ronaldo the people receiving a bouncing cross from Benzema, just more info about the penalty spot, as well as the Portuguese star miss-hit it over the crossbar each time a simple downward touch could have ensured the other score.
At the 40:29 minute mark di Maria was the people receiving the final give another nice counter but he sent the ball skyward from very close range sufficient reason for only Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer to overpower.
It was clear by half-time that Ancelotti had played all his pieces well while Bayern coach, Pep Guardiola, had assumed his superior forces would simply show up and carry the day. Real's formation must have been a surprise as was Ronaldo's walk out onto the pitch.
As the second half began what each coach could do today to out-fox the opposite seemed the question to respond to, the gamers had already shown they can follow each leader's directions to your tee.
The first chess move was Ancelotti's as they substituted Gareth Bale for Ronaldo to wide applause. Then Guardiola countered earning offensive players for midfielders and taking Frank Ribbery out. The gamble, adding countless attacking players rescued Bayern from an impending Real possession restore. And it also provide Bayern with a lot of more scoring opportunities.
At the 83rd minute Bayern's golden chance came. Mario Goetze was open inside the box, simply to the right of goal contributing to two yards away from goalie's box, and took a place blank shot at goal going to left. But the best keeper in the world, the one that always reacts so quick even when not asked all game long, made the save and kept the score line intact for that Real Madrid win.
It might have been too little for Madrid. Bayern is certainly worth two goals at home. But Ancelotti is relying upon both of his stars being healthy and ready for longer play in the second leg in Munich. It should be a sport worthy of a championship final instead of a semifinal.